Electric race timer



July 28, 1942. H, c, BURBRlDGE 2,291,022

ELECTRIC RACE TIMER Filed Aug. 19, 1940 TIMING MECHA N/SM INVENTOR J15. cfiurbrz'dg'e ATTYS Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC RACE TIMER Harry G. Burbridge, Fresno, Calif.

Application August 19, 1940, Serial No. 353,277

3 Claims.

This invention relates to timing apparatus for athletic events, and particularly for timing sprints and other foot races in which the contestants run in lanes, and in which the difference in timing of a fraction of a second may determine the winner, and possibly the setting of a new record.

Such apparatus includes a normally idle electrically controlled timing mechanism interposed in circuit means having a normally open switch on the starters gun and closed by the firing of the gun, and normally closed switches for the different lanes of the race track at the finish end of said track, each of which is opened by the breaking of the tape by the corresponding runner.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel form of gun-mounted starting switch for the timing apparatus which may be easily and removably mounted on the barrel of the gun, and which may be easily and quickly reset or cocked for subsequent operation after having been once actuated.

The device is also very simple, with nothing to give trouble or fail to function.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is an enlarged side View of the switch as applied to a gun and as held in cooked or open position; the view including a diagrammatic showing of the circuit of a timing apparatus in which the switch is interposed.

Figure 2 is a front end View of the switch detached.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, my improved switch is intended for use in connection with a normally inactive timing apparatus which includes a suitable electrically actuated timing mechanism indicated at I, a starting or operating circuit 2 in which my switch is interposed, as will be shown later, and mechanism stopping circuits 3 each including a normally closed switch 4 for each individual lane 5 of the running track, switches 4 being each arranged to be opened by the breasting of the tape by a runner in the corresponding lane at the finish end of the track.

The switch which forms the subject matter of this invention is mounted on a sleeve 6 adapted to be slipped over the barrel 1 of the starters gun, and to be removably held in place adjacent the muzzle by suitable means such as a set screw 8. The switch itself comprises contact strips 9 and III extending lengthwise of the gun and sleeve in spaced relation radially thereof. The strips are suitably secured at their rear end in connection with sleeve 6 with insulation blocks ll therebetween. The strips are connected adjacent their rear end to circuit wires 2, which are housed in a fiexible cable or cord l2 which may be secured adjacent the sleeve by a relatively small sleeve 13 on sleeve 6 at its rear end. Strips 9 and I0 carry contact points M at their forward end, which tend to engage each other.

Strip 9, which is nearest sleve 6, is resilient, and is provided adjacent its forward end, which is in front of the muzzle of the gun barrel, with a depending orificed ear I5 to which a thread [6 or similar readily destructible element is connected.

Mounted on and depending from sleeve 6 opposite the contact strips is a thread engaging clip including laterally separate clamping plates ll between which the thread may be passed, and adapted to be brought together in clamping engagement with the thread by a finger screw [8.

Before the gun is fired, the thread is pulled to separate strip 9 from strip [0 and place said strip 9 and the thread under tension. The tensioned thread is then passed between plates H and clamped in place, thus firmly holding the switch open. Firing of the gun of course causes instantaneous breaking of the thread and closing of the switch, which starts the timing mechanism in operation.

Before the next race is run, a new thread must be mounted on ear 15, but this is a simple and easy job to perform.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electrical race timing apparatus which includes an initially open circuit, the closing of which sets the apparatus in operation, a switch in the circuit mounted on the starting gun of a race, said switch including a movable blade tending to move to a switch closing position, and a readily destructible element connected to said blade and initially stretched across the muzzle of the gun and then holding the blade in an open position.

2. In an electrical race timing apparatus which includes an initially open circuit, the closing of which sets the apparatus in operation, a sleeve fixed on the barrel of the starting gun of a race adjacent the muzzle, a switch in said circuit comprising a pair of blades fixed at their rear end on the sleeve in spaced relation radially and extending lengthwise thereof, the blade nearest 10 the sleeve being resilient and projecting in front of the barrel, a clamp on the sleeve in diametrically opposed relation to the switch and a readily destructible tension element secured at one end on said resilient blade and extending thence 1 across the muzzle of the gun and engaged with the clamp to hold the element tensioned and the blade deflected and away from a switch closing position.

3. In an electrical race timing apparatus which includes an initially open circuit the closing of which sets the apparatus in operation, a switch in the circuit, means to mount the switch on the starting gun of a race adjacent the muzzle of the gun, said switch including a movable blade tending to move to a switch closing position, and projecting at one end ahead of the barrel and the blade being in an open position when said end thereof is moved toward the axis of the barrel; a readily destructible tension element connected at one end to said end of the blade and a device on the switch mounting means to clampingly engage the element adjacent its other end to hold the same stretched across the muzzle of the barrel and so that the blade is held in said open position.

HARRY C. BURBRTDGE. 

